One of the most common frustrations for transitioning service members is explaining military occupational specialties (MOS) to civilian employers. You know the depth of your training, the weight of your responsibilities and the outcomes you’ve delivered. But on a résumé, “11B Infantryman” or “91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic” often leaves recruiters scratching their heads.
The result is missed opportunities and underemployment. Veterans end up in jobs far below their capability not because they lack the skills—but because those skills weren’t translated into terms the civilian market understands.
Why Translation Matters
Employers hire based on clarity and confidence. If they don’t understand your background, they can’t connect it to business needs. A hiring manager may not know what a “platoon sergeant” does, but they do understand “led 40 employees, managed a $2M budget and improved efficiency by 25%.” Translation makes your experience relatable and measurable.
How to Translate Your MOS Effectively
- Break down the jargon. Replace acronyms with plain language. “CONOPS” becomes “operational planning.”
- Highlight transferable skills. Leadership, logistics, operations, risk management and technical expertise are all civilian-friendly.
- Focus on outcomes. Did you reduce downtime, improve readiness, save money, or protect resources? Those metrics matter.
- Use the mission-to-metrics framework. Scope → Constraints → Action → Results. This structure makes your value clear.
Tools That Help
Military Friendly® partners with platforms that convert MOS codes into civilian equivalents. These tools can provide a baseline, but personalization is critical. Don’t just paste automated translations into your résumé—adapt them to your target role.
Industries That Value MOS Skills
Many career paths align directly with military backgrounds:
- Operations & Logistics: Ideal for Veterans with planning, supply chain and resource management experience.
- Cybersecurity & IT: Perfect for those with signals, intelligence, or technical roles.
- Healthcare: Medics, corpsmen and healthcare administrators have a clear civilian path.
- Skilled Trades: Mechanics, electricians and engineers are in high demand.
The Data on Veteran Hiring
According to Military Friendly® survey data, employers who earn the badge report higher success in matching MOS codes to civilian roles. These organizations not only hire more veterans but also advance them faster because they recognize the underlying skills.
Steps to Take Right Now
- Identify 2–3 civilian career paths that align with your MOS.
- Write résumé bullets using outcomes, not duties.
- Shortlist Military Friendly® Employers who actively recruit for those paths.
- Practice explaining your MOS in plain language during interviews.
Veterans don’t lack the skills. They lack translation in the eyes of employers. By owning the narrative and reframing your MOS experience into outcomes, you ensure that civilian companies see the full scope of your capability.
You’ve already proven yourself in high-stakes environments. Civilian employers need that same capability—they just need to understand it. When you translate effectively, you bridge the gap between service and civilian success.
